Friday, April 30, 2010

James Bond was able to mix business with pleasure, but the marital problems of Tesla Motors' chief executive officer may very well challenge the emerging company. Elon Musk's divorce trial could put into question his control of the company, possibly having to surrender significant shares to his wife, a fantasy novelist.

The trial involves a contest over a 2000 postnuptial agreement, which if set aside would place Musk's stakes in Tesla, SolarCity and Space Exploration Technologies at risk. The problem, however, lies in a condition in the most recent S-1 filing of a $465 million loan from the Department of Energy that states that the loan would default to the DOE "in the event Mr. Musk and certain of his affiliates fail to own, at any time prior to one year after we complete the project relating to the Model S, at least 65 percent of the capital stock held by Mr. Musk and such affiliates as of the date of the DOE Loan Facility."

A shift in power could also result in boardroom maneuvering, according to Owen Thomas, potentially resulting in strategic changes. Even with the $465 million loan and without a disruption to its leadership, Tesla Motors would be fighting against the odds to deliver its Model S electric sedan by late 2011, as planned.

Tesla spokesman Ricardo Reyes, in a VentureBeat interview, said the company does not "expect the case to have an impact on the S-1 filing." The next hearings are set for May 5-May 7.

The number of customers who have pre-ordered the all-electric Nissan Leaf is up to 8,000. That�"s 10 days after Nissan started taking take $99 refundable deposits. �SI�"m feeling pretty good about it,⬝ Mark Perry, director of product planning at Nissan, told HybridCars.com.

The response represents almost 8 percent of the 102,000 people who had previously signed up as interested buyers. �SThat�"s a phenomenal conversion rate out of the gates,⬝ Kathryn Zachary, public relations manager, told us. �SEight percent conversion from signing up for more information to actually putting down a cash deposit. And that�"s only in the first week.⬝ We caught up with Perry and Zachary on Thursday at the Green:Net 2010 conference in San Francisco.

Nissan is expecting that number of pre-orders to grow during the early registration period that lasts through May 15�after which the general public will be allowed to submit deposits.

Customers submitting pre-orders and deposits in the first few days ran into a number of problems the Nissan website, which the company has mostly resolved.

By December, Nissan hopes to have 25,000 pre-orders, which is half the number of Nissan Leafs that will be produced globally during the first year. The exact geographic allocation for the Leaf will be �Sbased on customer demand,⬝ Perry said. So far, there have been about 4,000 pre-orders in Japan; ordering in the UK begins in July.

Nine days after an explosion killed 11 workers on an offshore drilling platform and sent thousands of gallons of crude oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico, the first of that oil began to wash ashore late Thursday night. As Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency and Washington stepped up its involvement in the mission to shut off the flow of oil and contain the existing slick, what was once considered an environmental crisis quickly took on the appearance of a full-on catastrophe. Not only are ecosystems from Mississippi to Florida facing critical harms, but economic fallout from the spill threatens to damage numerous local industries from fishing to tourism, in a region already reeling from recession.

In Washington, critics of President Barack Obama's recent proposal to expand domestic offshore drilling were more vocal than ever in their demands that the ever-present dangers from these sorts accidents be weighed against the economic benefits promised by drilling advocates. The House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming has announced that it will hold hearings on the spill, and will soon be requesting testimony from several of the country's largest oil companies.

For its part, the Obama administration seems to already be distancing itself from the proposal. Press secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters that though the President planned on reserving judgment for the time being, the policy would be reviewed in light of evidence about the causes and ultimate effects of the spill.

Many have speculated that any repeal of the offshore drilling ban would be a political concession aimed at building support for the White House's energy plan. Still considered to be a priority for Obama in his first term, the energy bill was recently placed on the back burner by congress in favor of immigration reform. Publicly, the President had been selling a balanced strategy towards energy independence that coupled infrastructure and technological investment with increased domestic energy production.

Microsoft Hohm is a platform to help future owners of Ford's electric vehicles optimize the way they recharge their vehicle.

The key phrase is �Ssmart grid⬝ at Green:Net 2010, a conference about IT, the Internet and climate change today in San Francisco. With the future of grid-connected vehicles looming right around the corner, automakers are in attendance to discuss the impact of adding vehicles to the increasingly complex web of energy and information.

Ed Pleet, Ford�"s product manager for connected services, is excited about electric cars and how they will connect to the grid for energy and information�but does not see vehicle communications systems as critical to consumer adoption of plug-in cars. Instead, car connectivity and the electrification of the automobile are two major trends starting to merge. �SIt�"s an enabler to help people overcome concerns like range anxiety,⬝ Pleet told HybridCars.com. �SIt will help them with the transition from pure gas vehicles to pure electric vehicles.⬝

Ed Pleet

In addition to alleviating worries about limited driving range and long re-charging times, on-board communications could help electric car drivers better understand their vehicle's energy consumption.

According to Pleet, cars of all kinds�running on gasoline, electricity, or a combination�will become increasingly connected. Drivers are already juggling the use of web-enabled smart phones, music, navigation systems, and climate controls. Products like Ford�"s Sync are designed to help drivers manage in-car information and entertainment with greater ease and safety. �SThere�"s always a need for connectivity in the vehicle, and some of those are unique for electric cars,⬝ Pleet said.

By exploiting the powers of nanotechnology and taking advantage of nontoxic, Earth-abundant materials, Berkeley Lab's Cyrus Wadia has fabricated new solar cell devices that have the potential to be several orders of magnitude less expensive than conventional solar cells. And, by mastering the chemistry of these materials�and the economics of solar energy�he envisions bringing electricity to the 1.2 billion people now living without it. Series: Science at the Theater [9/2009] [Science] [Show ID: 16917]]]>http://youtube.com/?v=a4XSB7CPl_MSolar Energy to 7 Billion Peoplesolar, cell, nanotechnology, energy, cyrus, wadiaUCtelevisionSolar Energy Pays BackRead More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with solar energy]

In Sept., 2008, German Chancellor Angela Merkel plugs in an electic-powered Smart car as Daimler head Deiter Zetsche and Matthias Wissmann, Chairman of the German Automobile Industry, look on.

On Monday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel will hold a summit on the electrification of the automobile, with senior executives from the major German auto companies, as well as utilities and the high-tech sector. Germany doesn�"t want to be left out of a potential electric car revolution�especially after falling way behind the Japanese competition for hybrid gas-electric cars. German Transport Minister Peter Ramsauer said that electric vehicle technology is "the most important project of this legislative period."

But, the widely circulated German weekly Der Spiegel is calling the re-emergence of electric cars a �Sgreat e-llusion.⬝ The magazine suggests that the attention given to �Scars with power sockets rather than gas tanks⬝ is more about publicity and political maneuvering than about a real shift to greener automotive technology.

By all appearances, the car companies are on board. BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer will travel to the meeting in a Mini E, an electric version of the Mini Cooper. Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche will squeeze into an all-electric Smart ForTwo for his journey to the summit. The article didn�"t mention how Martin Winterkorn, Volkswagen's CEO, will arrive. VW recently shifted its plans for its first electric car from the e-Up mini car to the e-Golf, an electric version of the Volkswagen Golf due in 2013.

This turbine designed by Bil Becker of University of Illinois. It has a design that is suitable for urban settings - caged, small size and low noise, albeit not very efficient, but very desirable to get you partially off the grid.Read More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with renewable energy]

Green energy is the new status symbol. Solar energy is free, clean, and limitless and it is all yours when you install a solar energy system. Solar Homeowners are proud to own homes and business that produce no pollution and conserve natural resources.Read More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with solar energy]

By exploiting the powers of nanotechnology and taking advantage of nontoxic, Earth-abundant materials, Berkeley Lab's Cyrus Wadia has fabricated new solar cell devices that have the potential to be several orders of magnitude less expensive than conventional solar cells. And, by mastering the chemistry of these materials�and the economics of solar energy�he envisions bringing electricity to the 1.2 billion people now living without it. Series: Science at the Theater [9/2009] [Science] [Show ID: 16917]Read More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with solar energy]

biobum.com Learn how to make your own renewable energy. Don't pay the electricity company, make the electricity company pay you. Get started for under $200 visit biobum.com for more info :) Blogging effectively using natural resources (sunlight & wind) The future of energy is Solar and Wind. Here is a short video of some solar energy farms around the world. Enjoy Solar Energy is energy from the Sun. This energy drives the climate and weather and supports virtually all life on Earth. Heat and light from the sun, along with solar-based resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available flow of renewable energy. Solar energy technologies harness the sun's energy for practical ends. These technologies date from the time of the early Greeks, Native Americans and Chinese, who warmed their buildings by orienting them toward the sun. Modern solar technologies provide heating, lighting, electricity and even flight. Solar power is used synonymously with solar energy or more specifically to refer to the conversion of sunlight into electricity. This can be done either through the photovoltaic effect or by heating a transfer fluid to produce steam to run a generator. Solar photovoltaics provide 0.04% of the world's energy usage. There are many technologies for harnessing solar energy. Applications span through the residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural and transportation sectors. Solar energy can be used to produce food <b>...</b>Read More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with solar energy]

Zero Energy Design� abundant, clean, free-fuel, passive solar energy can easily eliminate the need to burn expensive dirty fossil fuels to heat air and water in most populated locations. The lowest-cost way to get started is Passive Solar Design - All it needs is well-designed, properly-oriented glass. Two our our key Zero Energy Design� concepts are: (1) Isolated Solar Gain in a greenhouse / solarium, and (2) Our unique Thermal Buffer Zone, which uses free natural convection air flow to move warm air from the sunny greenhouse to the cold opposite side of the building. By Larry Hartweg ZEDmaster@ZeroEnergyDesign.com See more details on our ZeroEnergyDesign and PassiveSolarInfo websites.Read More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with solar energy]

April 6, 2009 Science at the Theater talk: By exploiting the powers of nanotechnology and taking advantage of non-toxic, Earth-abundant materials, Berkeley Lab's Cyrus Wadia has fabricated new solar cell devices that have the potential to be several orders of magnitude less expensive than conventional solar cells. And by mastering the chemistry of these materials�and the economics of solar energy�he envisions bringing electricity to the 1.2 billion people now living without it.Read More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with solar energy]

DigInfo - movie.diginfo.tv In the search for alternative energy Clean Venture 21 have developed a new spin on solar. Their Spherical Silicon Solar Array are made from silicon spheres 1mm in diameter which sit in a reflector which is 2.2 to 2.7mm in width. The sphere catches and stores the incidental light on its n-Si (or sphere surface) and transfers it to the p-Si (its internal sphere) which is in turn connected to a p-electrode. Clean Venture 21 also utilizes traditional flat-type arrays as well. "These cells here are in a 5cm x 15cm formation- each individual cell has a 1mm silicon ball inside it and it has an overall efficiency conversion rate of about 10%. In other experiments we have had efficiency rates of about 12%. Very soon we'd like to achieve 13 to 14% rates." The benefits of their Micro condensing type spherical silicon solar array is that it's 5 times cheaper to make, uses 5 times less material, and requires half the energy to reproduce than its contemporaries.Read More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with solar energy]

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints showed off the new environmentally-friendly Farmington Stake Center. Some of the new features include solar energy panels, tank-less water heaters and sophisticated thermostats that diagnose problems and send trouble alerts by e-mail.Read More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with solar energy]

Under legislation considered by the House today in Tallahassee, the states four investor owned utilities ( FP&L, Progress Energy, TECO, and Gulf Power) would be allowed to raise rates four dollars a month next year to build solar or biomass plants. But as Mike Vasilinda tells us, the legislation does nothing to help eight thousand Floridians who have already installed solar and are waiting for a promised rebate.Read More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with renewable energy]

President Barack Obama returned Tuesday to Iowa, the state that jumpstarted his presidential campaign, with a message he hopes will resonate with voters this fall: the economic recovery hasn't reached everyone, but progress is being made. (April 27)Read More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with wind energy]

Susan McGinnis anchors this afternoon's Clean Skies News Energy Report from Washington, DC. On the program: - John Kerry sounds a positive note about the future of his climate bill.- President Obama pushes for a clean energy economy as he tours a wind turbine blade factory.- The Senate looks into the accident at Upper Big Branch mine.- The oil rig disaster off the coast of Louisiana has some lawmakers reconsidering offshore drilling.- The Energy and Commerce Committee investigates the accident at the Deepwater Horizon offshore rig.- Several Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee have introduced a bill they say will make the US clean technology industry more competitive.- Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announces a two-year delay on legislative efforts to lower greenhouse gas emissions.- Germany's first offshore wind farm goes online.- EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson visits The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. www.cleanskies.comRead More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with wind energy]

The 2010 Honda Insight has been a disappointment for Honda. The company is trying to learn from its mistakes by making the next generation Insight the industry's most efficient hybrid.

Takanobu Ito, Honda�"s president, said last week that the company has grown �Scomplacent,⬝ and specifically pointed to its poor performance with hybrids as a key sign of the problem. To correct the situation, Ito is pushing his engineers to have the next-generation Honda Insight beat the Toyota Prius�"s fuel economy numbers�and to deliver it as soon as possible.

"I'm not satisfied," Ito told Automotive News. In the first quarter of 2010, Honda�"s share of the US market fell to 10.1 percent�from 10.5 percent a year earlier.

In concept, the Honda Insight was intended to compete as a more affordable alternative to Toyota Prius. But the price of the Insight, typically in the low $20,000s, is not the much cheaper than a Prius�and the fuel economy is considerably lower. The Prius gets 51 mpg in the city and 48 on the highway, compared with the Insight's 40/43. The copycat shape of the Insight added to the negative comparison with the Toyota Prius, which has outsold the Insight by about 5 to 1.

In addition to trying to beat the mileage of the Prius, Ito wants to roll out a new two-motor hybrid technical design�one motor employed to increase engine power and another to solely charge the battery. The new system is also likely to switch to lithium ion batteries from the nickel metal hydride technology currently in use. Honda will apply its new hybrid approach to a minivan and in Acura models. A rework of Honda's hybrid system could potentially create a technology pathway to plug-in hybrids.

Susan McGinnis anchors the Clean Skies Energy Report from Washington, DC On the Program:- Senate climate bill delayed after protest from Sen. Lindsey Graham that immigration reform was put before climate.- Pres. Obama pays respects to killed miners.- Robots are being used to mop up oil leaking from rig that sank last week off Louisiana's Gulf coast.- BP fined in 2007 for inadequate training employees in well control.- New regulations essentially remove watersheds in Syracuse and New York City from shale drilling development.- South Africa, Brazil, China and India push for strong climate agreement this year. www.cleanskies.comRead More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with wind energy]

By exploiting the powers of nanotechnology and taking advantage of nontoxic, Earth-abundant materials, Berkeley Lab's Cyrus Wadia has fabricated new solar cell devices that have the potential to be several orders of magnitude less expensive than conventional solar cells. And, by mastering the chemistry of these materials�and the economics of solar energy�he envisions bringing electricity to the 1.2 billion people now living without it. Series: Science at the Theater [9/2009] [Science] [Show ID: 16917]]]>http://youtube.com/?v=a4XSB7CPl_MSolar Energy to 7 Billion Peoplesolar, cell, nanotechnology, energy, cyrus, wadiaUCtelevisionSolar Energy at ScaleRead More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with solar energy]

An oil spill brought on by the collapse of an offshore drilling platform is now in its fourth day, as an estimated 42,000 gallons of oil continue to pour into the Gulf of Mexico every 24 hours. Though initially thought to be contained, the spill now covers more than 1,800 square miles, and some reports indicate that as much as 100 times more crude could spill into the sea if the well itself were to fail. For perspective, the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prudhoe Bay covered just 1,300 square miles but released more than 10 million gallons of oil into bay, a figure that dwarfs this latest spill by comparison.

As of Sunday, deep sea robots had been deployed in the hopes of sealing off the well by mid-week, but much environmental damage is believed to have already been done and the threat of even more catastrophic harm still looms. A Coast Guard spokesperson said that an initial estimate of the cleanup period is between 45 and 90 days. Officials believe that they still have a few more days before the slow-moving slick begins to hit the shore.

The environmental disaster comes at an inopportune time for offshore drilling advocates, who scored a major victory just weeks ago when the Obama administration decided to open up 167 million acres of ocean to drilling. Environmental advocates expressed outrage over last month's announcement, though its unlikely that drilling in those areas would begin for at least ten years. Now, the fallout over this latest spill in the Gulf of Mexico threatens to derail those plans.

Even if the offshore drilling ban is lifted, the increased production would be unlikely to effect oil prices, which are determined by on the international market and generally unresponsive to small increases in output. Even generous estimates limit the potential output of offshore discoveries in the United States to less than 1 percent of daily global production. Once the environmental damages of this latest spill are accessed, the debate over offshore drilling could enter a new chapter and the administration might even be forced to re-access its position.

Moreover, the environmental impact of yet another major oil spill�especially if it reaches shore�provides more powerful evidence of our need to reduce our need for petroleum to power our cars and trucks.

The Chinese auto market is booming. This year�"s Beijing Auto Show, which opened over the weekend, features nearly 100 cars powered by electricity or some other alternative to petroleum. The list of hybrids and electric cars on display looks like a grand vision of what China�"s roadways could look like in the next few years�but the timing is uncertain. Almost all of the advanced fuel-efficient vehicles on display are still in the concept and testing stages.

The challenges facing a green car future in China are illustrated by sales numbers for the F3 sedan from BYD, China�"s fourth largest car company. BYD sells the conventional F3, the country�"s best-selling model, which is priced at about US $9,000, according to Bloomberg. The company also sells the world�"s first mass-market plug-in hybrid, the F3DM (or F3 Dual Mode), which goes for about US $22,000. Considering the price discrepancy, it�"s not surprising that BYD sold fewer than 100 units of the F3DM, and almost 300,000 of the gas-powered F3.

Yet, the green car revolution is just starting in China, as it ramps from nearly no gas-alternatives today�to making hybrid and electric cars 15 percent of its market, according to the goal of the country�"s Ministry of Industry and Technology. Government subsidies for low-emissions vehicles are still in the works.

The Vision

The long parade of green cars in Beijing provides a vision of what could and should happen:

Renewable energy. In one hour we get enough sunlight on the earth to power the planet for a year. The molecular design of new materials for efficient harvesting of photons from the sun is promising. But storing that energy requires the next generation of batteries: sustainable, safe, and high-energy. Alan Heeger, Lon Bell and Jean-Marie Tarason explore new ways to meet our energy needs. Series: Summit on Energy Efficiency [11/2009] [Science] [Show ID: 17378]]]>http://youtube.com/?v=9PLlTCn1XSoToward a More Efficient Use of Renewable Energy Sourcesenergy, renewable, conservationUCtelevision14 renewable energyRead More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with renewable energy]

Wind Already Powers Some 2.5 Million US Homes Wind is the fastest growing energy source in the world...and here in the US wind farms have popped up in more than 30 states, producing enough energy to power an estimated 2.5 million homes a day. Thanks to growing concerns over natural gas prices, a desire for energy independence and incentives for renewable energy production, it's expected this trend will continue. A clean, renewable energy source, wind energy systems generate no water or air emissions. While critics of wind power point to a price discrepancy, noting that construction costs for wind-powered generators can run double those of fossil fuel plants, supporters counter that once wind facilities are constructed, there are no fuel costs, because wind, of course, is free. Likewise, they say that since maintenance is considered minimal, wind-power costs are competitive. Experts say it's relatively easy to harness the energy in wind- essentially you put a rotor on top of a tall tower, the wind blows the rotor, which is connected to a shaft, which drives an electrical generator to produce electricity. The American Wind Energy Association forecasts 6 percent of all homeowners in the US will receive their electricity from wind by 2020. Produced for SiemensRead More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with wind energy]

Renewable energy. In one hour we get enough sunlight on the earth to power the planet for a year. The molecular design of new materials for efficient harvesting of photons from the sun is promising. But storing that energy requires the next generation of batteries: sustainable, safe, and high-energy. Alan Heeger, Lon Bell and Jean-Marie Tarason explore new ways to meet our energy needs. Series: Summit on Energy Efficiency [11/2009] [Science] [Show ID: 17378]]]>http://youtube.com/?v=9PLlTCn1XSoToward a More Efficient Use of Renewable Energy Sourcesenergy, renewable, conservationUCtelevisionThe MIT Energy Initiative: Sustainable Energy and Terawatt-Scale Photovoltaics...Read More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with renewable energy]

Saturday, April 24, 2010

EnviroMission Limited (www.enviromission.com.au) produced this 5 minute video on the pilot plant in Spain. It is an older video (2000) but gives a decent understanding of the solar tower concept. EnviroMission, Ltd. (US Market: EVOMY, Australian Exchange: EVM) is a renewable energy developer of sustainable "green" energy solutions for the energy market. EnviroMission aims to be one of Australia's leading producers of clean renewable energy. EnviroMission holds the proprietary rights to Solar Tower technology, a large-scale renewable energy technology based on simple fundamentals of physics -- hot air rises. Solar Tower technology has the potential to offer competitive renewable energy with equal reliability to fossil fuel generators. A single 200MW Solar Tower power station will provide enough electricity to power around 400000 households. The energy output will represent an annual saving of more than 1960000 tonnes of greenhouse CO2 gases from entering the environment when compared to brown coal emissions in Victoria. The greenhouse savings equate to the removal of approximately 500000 cars from the road. The Australian Solar Tower project consists of six distinct phases, the first two of which (project optimization and pre-feasibility commercialization) have already been completed. The third phase (final feasibility), paving the way for the implementation of the next three phases (final design, construction, and commercial operation).Read More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with renewable energy]

This video inaugurates a new series, that will augment, but not replace, "Climate Denial Crock of the Week". Many people seem to think dealing with climate change will bring poverty and limit human development. The truth may be exactly the opposite. Moving to a world of where we aren't fighting each other over the last few drops of oil, where energy is free, will mean a better life, with greater opportunities even for an expanding population. If we make the right decisions, we could be on the verge of the most prosperous period in human history. Climate Denial Crocks will be back soon to tweak trolls and ding deniers. www.ferc.gov www.environmentamerica.org www.udel.edu www.udel.edu newenergynews.blogspot.com climateprogress.orgRead More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with renewable energy]

Renewable energy. In one hour we get enough sunlight on the earth to power the planet for a year. The molecular design of new materials for efficient harvesting of photons from the sun is promising. But storing that energy requires the next generation of batteries: sustainable, safe, and high-energy. Alan Heeger, Lon Bell and Jean-Marie Tarason explore new ways to meet our energy needs. Series: Summit on Energy Efficiency [11/2009] [Science] [Show ID: 17378]Read More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with renewable energy]

Google Tech Talk November 5, 2009 ABSTRACT This MITEI on the Road event will open with a brief overview of the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI) by Daniel Enderton, Executive Director of MITEIs Sustainable Energy Revolution Program (SERP). This overview will highlight the extensive depth and breadth of research, education, campus energy and outreach activities underway as part of the Initiative. Mr. Enderton will give particular focus on the SERP program, with highlights of successful past projects in storage, promising new projects in geothermal and the impact philanthropy is having on renewable energy research at MIT. Following this, Professor Tonio Buonassisi of Mechanical Engineering will give a presentation describing the key technical challenges to scaling commercial PV technologies to the terawatt level. The speaker will present a vision for the role of university engineering and science towards surmounting these challenges, drawing from personal experience in the solar industry, national laboratories, and academia. Increased solar cell conversion efficiencies, novel materials, and decreased capital equipment costs will be discussed as a means to achieve rapidly scalable manufacturing, highlighting the role of innovation. technologies and how they will help drive down the cost of solar technology to be competitive with petroleum-based alternatives, while Mr. Enderton will give an overview of the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI) and information on other renewable energy <b>...</b>Read More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with renewable energy]

Raising the share of renewable energy from 8.5% to 20% in the overall energy consumption is a necessary contribution to the global fight against climate change and towards better control over our energy dependence. The various uses of renewable energy are examined: electricity through wind and hydraulic energies; electricity or heat through geothermal and solar energies; electricity, heat, and biofuel coming from biomass. The EU is a world leader in the use and deployment of technologies that exploit renewable energy sources, providing over 350.000 jobs and an annual turn-over of � 30 billion. Download: ec.europa.eu. ec.europa.euRead More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with renewable energy]

As more and more windy areas on land fill with rotors to convert wind power to electricity, manufacturers are pushing to move their facilities offshore, where the wind is stronger and steadier. Germany has plans to generate 25000 megawatts of power from offshore wind energy by 2030. That corresponds to 15 percent of electricity use. The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency has given the green light for six wind turbines for commercial use to be built 45 kilometers off the North Sea island of Borkum. The operator will be Alpha Ventus. Ironically, the wind has delayed construction until 2009. But a model plant is being built off the mainland town of Hooksiel. Three pipes, three meters in diameter are being rammed 45 meters deep into the Wadden Sea. Then come the tower, the gondola and the 60 meter long rotor blades. Made in Germany was there to see the giant wind energy plant put together.Read More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with wind energy]

Friday, April 23, 2010

solarpowersystemstoday.com - Solar energy panels are the essential component of solar installations. Discover what they accomplish and what forms of solar power panels you can get. Solar energy is the future of energy sources.Read More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with solar energy]

Susan McGinnis anchors this afternoon's Clean Skies News Energy Report from Washington, DC On the Program: - 40th Anniversary of the first Earth Day- we talk with one of the original coordinators. - Pres. Obama says Earth Day is opportunity to reflect on legacy passed down and take action. - Obama puts energy derivatives under the microscope. - Massey Energy's board keeps Don Blankenship as CEO, as 57 mines had surprise inspections. - The oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico that exploded has collapsed and sunk. - Natural gas prices shot up more than 4%. - Poll in Alaska, Florida, Iowa, Idaho, Virginia: Republicans want a change in energy policy that favors renewable energy. - Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Southern California is first LEED-certified Coke facility in North America. www.cleanskies.comRead More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with wind energy]

Renewable energy. In one hour we get enough sunlight on the earth to power the planet for a year. The molecular design of new materials for efficient harvesting of photons from the sun is promising. But storing that energy requires the next generation of batteries: sustainable, safe, and high-energy. Alan Heeger, Lon Bell and Jean-Marie Tarason explore new ways to meet our energy needs. Series: Summit on Energy Efficiency [11/2009] [Science] [Show ID: 17378]]]>http://youtube.com/?v=9PLlTCn1XSoToward a More Efficient Use of Renewable Energy Sourcesenergy, renewable, conservationUCtelevisionRenewable Energy and the Futurehttp://youtube.com/?v=Scu1_bVhu8cRenewable Energy and the Futureenergy, technology, conservationUCtelevisionAeroTurbine - Becker's Darrieus and Savonius CombinationRead More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with renewable energy]

The 2011 Hyundai Sonata, due in December, is the company's first hybrid�but far from the last. Hyundai will add the mildest form of hybrid technology, stop-start, to a range of its models.

The technology is called stop-start, idle-stop or micro-hybrid. Bottom line: It's a cost-effective way to get a 10 percent efficiency improvement.

In recent years, Europe has been embracing stop-start systems�also known as �Smicro-hybrids⬝�but the US has been slow to adopt the technology. Until now. Automotive News reported this week that Hyundai and Ford will begin offering stop-start systems on several of their models.

"Start-stop will be a key part of our development activity in the next two product cycles," Timothy White, Hyundai-Kia's senior powertrain manager, said last week at the SAE World Congress. That could mean stop-start technology on a wide range of North American Hyundai and Kia models in about two years.

Ford promises to offer micro-hybrid technology on about 20 percent of its global nameplates by 2014. And Automotive News reported last year that Mazda is planning to bring its i-stop system to US cars.

What�"s In a Name?

The auto industry has not settled on how to name or market the fuel-saving technology, which improves fuel economy by about 5 � 10 percent. Some will passionately argue that it�"s not really a hybrid of any kind�but if you grant that the technology generates and re-uses energy for greater efficiency, then it belongs in the family hybrid technologies, which ranges from micro-hybrid to plug-in series hybrid (also known as extended range electric vehicle).

Hybrid gas-electric cars dominate Kelley Blue Book�"s latest list of the most fuel-efficient vehicles. It�"s no surprise that six cars in the top 10 list, released this week, are hybrids and two are small cars�the Mini Cooper and Honda Fit. But the two clean diesel offerings�one from Volkswagen and one from BMW�almost escape notice.

With dozens of new hybrids expected in the next couple of years, and the buzz (and government support) going to cars that can plug into the grid, will clean diesel vehicles be left in the zero-emissions dust?

Not exactly, if you consider that the 2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI packs a powerful punch of low-end torque and delivers an estimated 42 miles to the gallon. The base MSRP is $22,000, making the Golf TDI one of the most compelling mpg-per-dollar options. The hard line economics of the 2010 BMW 335d are not quite as compelling, but plunk down twice the dollars on the 6-cylinder diesel Bimmer to get almost twice the horsepower, and a lot more luxury. The BMW 335d is officially rated at 36 mpg on the highway and 27 in the city.

While Nissan, General Motors and other car companies are heavily betting on an electricity-powered automotive future, Volkswagen is banking on clean diesel. According to the Boston Herald, VW is projecting that up to 30 percent of its new sedan�"s sales will be clean diesel vehicles, and that mainstream consumers, not necessarily willing to go hybrid or electric, will turn to diesel. In March, almost 7,000 of VW�"s 22,000 sales in the US were diesels, said VW spokesman Christian Buhlmann. "One month, it�"s a quarter. One month, its a third."

Nissan began yesterday to take reservations for the Nissan Leaf�the first mass-market all-electric car to hit the market since GM�"s EV1 was canceled in 2003. A list of approximately 100,000 pre-registered interested buyers received an email, notifying them that the reservation website was ready to take orders. The reservations, which require a refundable $99 fee, puts prospective buyers first in line to buy or lease the Nissan Leaf, when firm orders begin in August.

Rollout begins in select markets in December 2010, with vehicles available in all major launch markets thereafter. That could mean mid-2011, depending on where you live. The Leaf is priced at $32,780 and will be eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit. The Leaf will also be available for a 36-month lease, running $349 per month with an initial payment of $1,999.

Small Bumps in the Road

The first day of reservations was not without a number of logistical problems. Our sources tell us that many people on the list didn�"t get the notification email or received the email later than expected. In addition, the system had problems processing American Express cards for the deposit.

The online registration process started with a survey, asking a number of questions about personal driving patterns and parking location�in order to determine if a customer is well-suited to an electric car with approximately 100 miles of range. In addition, registrants were asked to choose either the base SV trim level�or the higher SL package that includes a rear-view monitor, solar spoiler panel, fog lights and automatic on-off headlamps. Five color choices�blue, black, white, silver and red�were also offered.

At HybridCars.com, we were unsuccessful in placing our reservation. After completing a survey and entering our credit card information, the link to the final confirmation screen was incorrectly redirected to a video about the ordering process. We placed a phone call to the toll-free dedicated Leaf support line for assistance. After waiting 45 minutes to speak with a representative, he informed us that many customers were experiencing this glitch. The agent took our number and said that we would get a call back within 48 hours�or �Spossibly within 7 to 10 days⬝�to confirm that the registration system was fixed and ready.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

www.DIYSolarPowerGuides.com - For those who wish to go green (solar or wind energy for the home) but can't afford the lump sum it typically costs up front; give the do-it-yourself option a try for a small investment of just $50 for instructions & plans. Also check out the true benefits of solar energy and how it's applied, these systems are becoming more common and more affordable throughout the US and the rest of the world.Read More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with wind energy]

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

On the eve of the start of the 2010 European Wind Energy Conference in Poland here's a look back at last year's event. Find out more about wind energy and all formas of alternative fuels and technologies at TheAutoChannel.com.Read More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with wind energy]

RES Americas is one of the top renewable energy companies in the United States (US). We have been developing, constructing, owning, and operating renewable energy projects since 1997. RES Americas is committed to creating a clean energy future for all.Read More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with renewable energy]

Hosts Max Lugavere and Jason Silva explore Spanish life in a way usually experienced only by locals and the most adventurous travelers. Spotlights El Hierro, the smallest of the Canary Islands and the world's first energy self-sufficient island. VIEW more UNSEEN & SUBSCRIBE to the YouTube Playlist here... www.youtube.comRead More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with renewable energy]

A new hybrid-only model from Hyundai will use the same dimensions and packaging as the Hyundai Blue Will plug-in hybrid concept.

Hyundai is working on a new hybrid-only model to directly compete against the Toyota Prius. �SWe are studying a dedicated Prius-fighter vehicle, meaning a hybrid-specific nameplate that isn�"t based off a Sonata or a Santa Fe,⬝ Miles Johnson, Hyundai product public relations manager, told HybridCars.com. �SIt�"s its own thing.⬝

While Johnson did not confirm a specific production date, he placed the new hybrid-only model ahead of the Hyundai Blue Will plug-in hybrid concept. �SWe�"ve also been studying plug-in hybrid technology, which is a bit farther out for us. But the near-term would be a Prius-sized vehicle,⬝ Johnson said. �SYou can look at the dimensions of the Blue Will concept and see it would be a similar package and size to a Prius.⬝

Automotive News last year reported that the four-door Blue Will will launch in the United States in late 2012, according to Yang Woong-Chul, president of Hyundai-Kia Motors�" R&D division. Although the date for the Blue Will plug-in hybrid could easily slip into 2013 or later, the implication is that a new Hyundai hybrid-only model could go into production in the next two years.

Moving Target for Green Top Spot

�SA hybrid vehicle usually takes double the time of a standard production car, and a plug-in even more than that,⬝ Johnson said. �SThink about how long GM has been spending on the Chevy Volt. It doesn�"t happen overnight, but we�"ve got some good partners with LG Chem on the batteries.⬝ Johnson downplayed the reality of the Blue Will plug-in hybrid as �Sjust a concept car,⬝ but pointed to a Hyundai �SPrius-fighter⬝ as more immediate and real. �SWe have a lot of engineers working quietly behind the scenes. We�"re really moving as fast as we can.⬝ Both projects are being developed at Hyundai�"s Namyang design center in South Korea.

Renewable energy. In one hour we get enough sunlight on the earth to power the planet for a year. The molecular design of new materials for efficient harvesting of photons from the sun is promising. But storing that energy requires the next generation of batteries: sustainable, safe, and high-energy. Alan Heeger, Lon Bell and Jean-Marie Tarason explore new ways to meet our energy needs. Series: Summit on Energy Efficiency [11/2009] [Science] [Show ID: 17378]]]>http://youtube.com/?v=9PLlTCn1XSoToward a More Efficient Use of Renewable Energy Sourcesenergy, renewable, conservationUCtelevisionAeroTurbine - Becker's Darrieus and Savonius CombinationRead More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with renewable energy]

Susan McGinnis anchors this afternoon's Clean Skies News Energy Report from Washington, DC. On the program: -The Major Economies Forum is underway in Washington with delegates hoping to bridge gaps on climate change. -Saying Copenhagen didn't do enough for emerging nations, Bolivia hosts talks on global warming and its impact on some of the worlds poorest people. - Energy ministers from the countries that produce most of the world's natural gas meet to seek ways to boost and stabilize export prices. -Matinee Energy is teaming up with Hyundai and LG to build 240 megawatts of solar power in the southwest. www.cleanskies.comRead More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with wind energy]

The Emerging Energy Technologies Summit 2006, part of UCSB's Technology Management Program, takes a look at more efficient and renewable energy sources, solar and wind power, production of ethanol, and more energy-efficient cars. Series: "Technology Management Program" [7/2006] [Science] [Show ID: 11695]]]>http://youtube.com/?v=Scu1_bVhu8cRenewable Energy and the Futureenergy, technology, conservationUCtelevisionToward a More Efficient Use of Renewable Energy Sourceshttp://youtube.com/?v=9PLlTCn1XSoToward a More Efficient Use of Renewable Energy Sourcesenergy, renewable, conservationUCtelevisionRenewable Energy From the Deep Ocean US Gov R&DRead More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with renewable energy]

Aptil 20 (Bloomberg) -- Bloomberg's Ryan Chilcote reports from the British coast on energy company investigations into a possible design fault that may be causing offshore wind turbines to shift on the seabed.Read More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with wind energy]

Monday, April 19, 2010

www.firstwind.com for more videos from First Wind about wind energy. Find out what the inside of a wind turbine looks like and how it works as Liz from First Wind embarks on the 6 minute climb inside the tower to the top.Read More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with wind energy]

Toyota launched the Estima Hybrid minivan in Japan in 2001. A new report indicates that the company will launch a Prius hybrid minivan in 2011.

The Japanese Nikkei business daily reported on Friday that Toyota will launch a Prius-badged hybrid minivan. Toyota is not officially confirming the story�so the timing and any other details should be taken with a grain of salt. Nonetheless, it�"s exciting news for the following reasons:

1First US Hybrid Minivan

Consumers have been clamoring for a hybrid minivan for years. Besides a subcompact, it�"s the only segment that does not have a super-efficient hybrid available in the US. At this point, family-oriented hybrid shoppers looking for three rows of seats to carry up to seven people need to buy an SUV�such as the Toyota Highlander Hybrid or Cadillac Escalade Hybrid. The Prius minivan, according to the report, will be more affordable and flexible than hybrid SUVs. Nikkei states: �SIts seat configuration will be flexible to allow for convenient seating and create luggage space. Toyota plans to keep the price of the new Prius minivan at a level similar to those of current Prius models.⬝

2Toyota and Japan Are Aggressively Adding More Hybrids

Hybrid Minivan Pages

The Nikkei report says the Toyota Prius minivan will be launched in 2011�without specifying when in 2011 and in which markets. It�"s safe to say that the Prius minivan will first go to Japan and will be sold in greater numbers there.

In another report from Japan, the Yomiuri Shimbun last week said that Japan�"s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry wants hybrid and electric vehicles to account for 50 percent of new-car sales in Japan by 2020. It also set a target to raise the proportion of �Snext-generation vehicles⬝ to up to 70 percent of new cars sold in Japan by 2030. These targets blow away nearly every other country�"s goals�and they focus on hybrids as well as plug-in cars. Unlike other nations, Japan is backing up its ambitions with proven effective policies, such as higher fuel tax and more generous consumer incentives.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

By exploiting the powers of nanotechnology and taking advantage of nontoxic, Earth-abundant materials, Berkeley Lab's Cyrus Wadia has fabricated new solar cell devices that have the potential to be several orders of magnitude less expensive than conventional solar cells. And, by mastering the chemistry of these materials�and the economics of solar energy�he envisions bringing electricity to the 1.2 billion people now living without it. Series: Science at the Theater [9/2009] [Science] [Show ID: 16917]]]>http://youtube.com/?v=a4XSB7CPl_MSolar Energy to 7 Billion Peoplesolar, cell, nanotechnology, energy, cyrus, wadiaUCtelevisionSolar Energy (Freiburg, Germany)Read More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with solar energy]

In Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, in spite of what wind developers and wind lobbyists say, the 1000 foot setback is not a sufficient distance between homes and wind turbines that are 40 stories tall. There are indeed problems with noise and shadow flicker at this distance. Ask people in the town of Byron in Fond du Lac what they think of the 1000 foot setback.Read More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with wind energy]

By exploiting the powers of nanotechnology and taking advantage of nontoxic, Earth-abundant materials, Berkeley Lab's Cyrus Wadia has fabricated new solar cell devices that have the potential to be several orders of magnitude less expensive than conventional solar cells. And, by mastering the chemistry of these materials�and the economics of solar energy�he envisions bringing electricity to the 1.2 billion people now living without it. Series: Science at the Theater [9/2009] [Science] [Show ID: 16917]]]>http://youtube.com/?v=a4XSB7CPl_MSolar Energy to 7 Billion Peoplesolar, cell, nanotechnology, energy, cyrus, wadiaUCtelevisionHelios Solar Powered AircraftRead More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with solar energy]

Renewable energy. In one hour we get enough sunlight on the earth to power the planet for a year. The molecular design of new materials for efficient harvesting of photons from the sun is promising. But storing that energy requires the next generation of batteries: sustainable, safe, and high-energy. Alan Heeger, Lon Bell and Jean-Marie Tarason explore new ways to meet our energy needs. Series: Summit on Energy Efficiency [11/2009] [Science] [Show ID: 17378]]]>http://youtube.com/?v=9PLlTCn1XSoToward a More Efficient Use of Renewable Energy Sourcesenergy, renewable, conservationUCtelevisionAlternative Energy SourcesRead More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with renewable energy]

By exploiting the powers of nanotechnology and taking advantage of nontoxic, Earth-abundant materials, Berkeley Lab's Cyrus Wadia has fabricated new solar cell devices that have the potential to be several orders of magnitude less expensive than conventional solar cells. And, by mastering the chemistry of these materials�and the economics of solar energy�he envisions bringing electricity to the 1.2 billion people now living without it. Series: Science at the Theater [9/2009] [Science] [Show ID: 16917]]]>http://youtube.com/?v=a4XSB7CPl_MSolar Energy to 7 Billion Peoplesolar, cell, nanotechnology, energy, cyrus, wadiaUCtelevisionSolar TechRead More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with solar energy]

Friday, April 16, 2010

Compilation of test flights. Pathfinder Solar Plane preceeded Centurion. Pathfinder turned into Pathfinder+ by removing the original center panel and replacing it with a panel that was about 48 feet in length. Centurion turned into Helios Prototype, which turned into Helios and Helios with a fuel cell. The difference between Centurion and Helios prototype was removing the center panel and adding 2 new center panels. Helios flew with 5 pods and had a full solar array. The fuel cell version was made by removing the center pod and replacing it with the fuel cell pod. That is the one at the end of the video.Read More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with solar energy]

Floating wind energy offshore system Bolowind is a floating offshore system to produce wind energy. (Depths from 50 meters). A drag type system gets less performance that the helix. It is not disputed. But the structure of bolowind offers many other advantages that make it very interesting and where the helix does not succeed. It has been very difficult to summarize in 7 minutes all possibilities for the full version. A conceptual study is available (original Spanish and English translation) in pdf format. (www.bolowind.com) Bolowind begins where the helix can't reach. Thank you for your view.Read More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with wind energy]

Renewable energy. In one hour we get enough sunlight on the earth to power the planet for a year. The molecular design of new materials for efficient harvesting of photons from the sun is promising. But storing that energy requires the next generation of batteries: sustainable, safe, and high-energy. Alan Heeger, Lon Bell and Jean-Marie Tarason explore new ways to meet our energy needs. Series: Summit on Energy Efficiency [11/2009] [Science] [Show ID: 17378]]]>http://youtube.com/?v=9PLlTCn1XSoToward a More Efficient Use of Renewable Energy Sourcesenergy, renewable, conservationUCtelevisionRenewable Energy and the Futurehttp://youtube.com/?v=Scu1_bVhu8cRenewable Energy and the Futureenergy, technology, conservationUCtelevisionRenewable Energy From the Deep Ocean US Gov R&DRead More...[Source: YouTube Videos tagged with renewable energy]